Los Angeles Dodgers famous person Shohei Ohtani capped off his 2024 calendar yr with one other accolade when the Related Press named him its Male Athlete of the Yr for the third time.
The win tied him with basketball nice Michael Jordan. He trails solely four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, and LeBron James.
In voting by 74 sports activities journalists from the AP and its members, Ohtani earned 48 factors, marking his third win of the award, following victories in 2021 and 2023 with the Angels. French swimmer Léon Marchand, who received 4 gold medals on the Paris Olympics, completed second with 10 votes. Golfer Scottie Scheffler, who received the Masters and an Olympic gold medal this yr, got here in third with 9 votes.
Extra information: Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching Seems to be ‘Actually, Actually Good’, Says Dodgers Teammate
“I’m very honored,” Ohtani mentioned by means of translator Matt Hidaka in an unique interview with the AP. ”Clearly all of the onerous work has paid off. Perhaps subsequent yr, I’ll get the award once more.”
Ohtani had among the finest seasons baseball has ever seen. He based the 50/50 membership, batted a career-high. 310, received his third Most Worthwhile Participant award, received the World Collection, and signed a 10-year contract price $700 million.
The 2-way participant additionally underwent surgical procedure in early November to restore a torn labrum in his shoulder that he suffered in the course of the World Collection.
“I don’t have full vary of movement but, nevertheless it feels rather a lot higher,” he instructed the AP. “There’s no ache. There’s clearly nonetheless slightly little bit of tightness, however slowly however certainly it’s getting higher.”
The rehab course of is prolonged however he’s progessing. Nonetheless, he’s targeted on the current day not what the longer term holds with regards to the place he performs on the sector and if he’s pitching or not.
“It’s the small steps that I feel are crucial to get me to the last word objective, which is to simply get again wholesome,” he mentioned.
There have been rumblings that Ohtani won’t be wholesome sufficient to pitch when the Dodgers open the season in Tokyo however he isn’t utterly counting that out.
“My private objective is to be absolutely wholesome by the point the opening video games do begin,” he mentioned. “To have the ability to pitch and hit could be nice, however the scenario will type of information itself.”
Extra information: Dodgers’ Walker Buehler to Signal $21.05 Million Deal With AL Rival: Report
Picture Credit score: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports activities
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